With your team´s success under your tenure, how do you keep your players humbled and prepared for each game?
The biggest thing for us is to just have a work ethic. Come to practice every day and work harder than the guy next to you. We can´t afford to take a day off and we play one game at a time.
Tell us about a favorite charity that you support.
Friends of Pets.
Do you require your football players to volunteer in the community? If yes, what are the requirements?
Yes, we have them read at the elementary school in town to kids. We´ve also had them plant trees along the Pine Ridge.
What coach did you most admire growing up and why?
This is a tough question because there has been so many coaches I admire. Jim Fox was my offensive line coach my junior year of high school in Des Moines, and he´s a guy I really admire. But I try to take the best from all the coaches I´ve had and learn from that.
How can you prepare your team in advance to limit personal foul penalties that tend to take place "in the heat of the moment" (e.g. late hits, helmet-to-helmet hits, etc.)?
We coach them to keep a level head. We address maintaining composure quite a bit and because of the repetitions, we´ve never really had a problem with it.
What are the top three things you demand from your student-athletes?
The biggest thing I want them to do is respect the game. I also want them to be loyal to their teammates and program. The third thing is just knowing the difference between right and wrong. I always want our student-atheltes to do the right thing.
What are some unusual pre-game rituals or superstitions performed by you or your players (past or present)?
Everybody on the team has different ways. A lot of guys say they´re not superstitious, but all of us are because you want to stay in the pattern before a game. I jog for about three miles before every home game.
What is one thing that your players would be surprised to learn about you?
I have an art degree.
If you were evaluating game film of yourself as a high school senior, would that player be recruited to play for your program today?
Oh, probably not. I wasn´t big enough.
What is your favorite movie of all time and the best movie you´ve seen recently?
My favorite movie has to be Jeremiah Johnson. And the best one I´ve seen recently is The Express.
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